Many of us have grown up around dogs and consider ourselves pretty good at reading what our canine companions are saying. Actually, as a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, I find that while people are good at reading obvious communications from their dog (like a tucked tail or a growl), the dog’s smaller communications … Continue reading 5 Signals from your Dog that you’re Missing
So, you’re thinking about having or adopting a child…congratulations! Regardless of the age of the child you are bringing home (infant, toddler, or older child), children can be a big adjustment for any dog. The truth is, any dog can have trouble with this huge life change, and any dog can bite (more on that … Continue reading Preparing your Pup for a Child
In a previous blog post, I explored how decompression walks can benefit your dog. Here, I'll dive into more practical tips regarding the leash skills you might need for these types of walks. How do you do a "decompression walk" when being off-leash is not a suitable option? While you can take a decompression walk … Continue reading Essential Skills and Safety Tips for Long Leashes
I could sense the woman’s exasperation over the phone. “I don’t understand it,” she said. “Max* used to LOVE doggy daycare. He’s been going to daycare three days a week since he was a puppy. Now, within the last few weeks, he’s been in several scuffles, and today, he got in a big fight where … Continue reading Fido and Friends: Why Changes in Dog Sociability are Normal
There was Henrietta, whose owner told me: “The UPS man told me that he will not deliver packages to my address again until I get Henrietta some training. She barks and throws herself against the glass so hard when he comes to the door that he’s afraid she’s going to crash through the window at … Continue reading The Watcher at the Window
With more and more Americans getting vaccinated, things are starting to gradually re-open. People are spending more time outside of the house, and people may be trickling back into the office. Starting to return to “normal” brings a whole host of emotions for us humans. It brings a whole set of emotions and challenges for … Continue reading Leave Them Alone!
In my last blog post, I explored how regular enrichment helps to prevent or reduce common behavior problems in dogs. This month, let’s explore another method for helping dogs achieve a happy, relaxed state of being: decompression walks! What’s a decompression walk? Let me start by saying that I am not the first trainer to … Continue reading Why your Dog needs Decompression
If I told you that there was an ethical method that prevented many behavior problems in domesticated dogs…would you use it? The Animal in the Zoo I was introduced to this thought exercise in a podcast by Sarah Stremming. You can find her Cog Dog Radio podcast here. It’s one of my favorite things to … Continue reading My #1 Tip for Behavior Problem Prevention
Recently, I posted a video on Wiggles and Woofs’ TikTok account featuring Meatball, an all-star Miniature Australian Shepherd who was learning to be comfortable around strangers and walk on a loose leash. I was intrigued by a commenter who posted that loose leash walking was not acceptable, and that dogs should heel at all times. … Continue reading Stuff Dogs Do
I was watching a dog training video yesterday. The dog being trained was a bright, determined German shepherd. Focused and driven, she performed “sits” and “downs” for the trainer again and again. If she made an error and did not receive her treat, she might give a bark of frustration, but then immediately persevered, offering … Continue reading But my dog isn’t like the ones in the dog training videos…
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